Isn’t it wonderful when you sit down to write an article drawing the Suez Parallel, only to discover that someone else has already written a very similar piece? Suddenly you are free to close the laptop and go do something even more enjoyable than writing.

Leon Hadar points out that the war against Iran is repeating the catastrophic strategic mistakes of the 1956 Suez Crisis, where Britain and France (in collusion with Israel) launched a military adventure that ended in humiliation and accelerated the decline of the British Empire.

Just as Britain used shifting, bogus pretexts (freedom of navigation, containing Soviet influence) to justify attacking Egypt while diplomacy was underway, the US and Israel struck Iran even though nuclear negotiations through Oman had reportedly reached a breakthrough. The war’s justifications have also kept changing (pre-emption, regime change, neutralizing threats, etc.).
Trump, like Britain in 1956, chose military action and regime-change hopes over a reachable diplomatic solution. The author argues this reflects imperial-style overreach, with the US now playing the role of the reckless adventurer rather than the restraining power (as Eisenhower was in 1956).
Iran has responded with missile strikes on US bases across the region and Gulf energy infrastructure, driving up global energy and food prices. Trump’s approval rating meanwhile has fallen to a low of 36% and the ongoing war is rapidly depleting US munitions stockpiles, making it increasingly difficult for the Pentagon to keep up with existing weapon orders and replenish supplies.

The “ghost of Suez” suggests that this adventure could leave the US even more indebted, diplomatically isolated, economically strained, and stripped of its global illusions.
@LauraRuHK
➡️ https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/ghost-of-suez-haunts-trumps-iran-war/

According to Alexander Ionov, chairman of the Human Rights Council’s Commission on International Cooperation, there is a high probability that Telegram will comply with Russian legislation, allowing the messenger to resume normal operations in Russia.

“As far as I know, the Telegram team is likely to reach an agreement with the Russian Federation and fulfill the required conditions, particularly regarding extremist content and channels that threaten national security,”

He added that Russia’s demands are entirely reasonable and that the Telegram team is already discussing them. @LauraRuHK
https://tass.ru/ekonomika/26926343

Taking the pulse. Here is what Lawrence Freedman, one of the foremost (super-mainstream) scholars of strategy and international security in the UK, wrote yesterday:

"It is hard to convey the gloom that has overtaken Washington. All the structures that are vital to crisis management have either been attenuated or disbanded. There is hardly anyone left on the National Security Council staff. A friend described an empty State Department where you could hear your own foot steps. Marco Rubio is involved in the decision-making but he has neglected to acquire the professional staff assessments that should inform such decisions.[...]

And then overseeing this President Trump appears to inhabit an alternative reality which he shares regularly on Truth Social or whenever a reporter gets a microphone close to his mouth, which is quite often. His utterances have become increasingly incoherent, with contradictory statements following quickly one after the other, and frankly delusional claims. [...] The failure to consult Congress prior to launching Epic Fury (I don’t need to repeat the obvious substitutions for ‘Fury’ one hears) means that the administration is increasingly isolated. The war has been unpopular from the start and it is getting more so. The inflationary effects of the war are already biting and if some vital supplies stay trapped in the Gulf the pain will soon get worse." @LauraRuHK ➡️ https://substack.com/home/post/p-191866004

Il polso della situazione. Ecco cosa ha scritto ieri Lawrence Freedman, uno dei più autorevoli (molto mainstream!) studiosi di strategia e sicurezza internazionale nel Regno Unito: «È difficile descrivere il clima di cupa depressione che ha invaso Washington. Tutte le strutture essenziali per la gestione delle crisi sono state indebolite o smantellate. Nel Consiglio per la Sicurezza Nazionale sono rimasti pochissimi funzionari. Un amico mi ha descritto un Dipartimento di Stato deserto, dove si sentono solo i propri passi riecheggiare nei corridoi. Marco Rubio partecipa alle decisioni, ma ha trascurato di farsi affiancare dalle valutazioni degli esperti di professione che dovrebbero orientare tali scelte. [...] E poi, a supervisionare tutto questo, il presidente Trump sembra vivere in una realtà parallela che condivide regolarmente su Truth Social o ogni volta che un giornalista gli avvicina un microfono, cosa che accade spesso. Le sue dichiarazioni sono diventate sempre più incoerenti, con affermazioni contraddittorie che si susseguono rapidamente e sono francamente deliranti. [...] Il mancato consulto con il Congresso prima di lanciare l’operazione Epic Fury (tralasciando le ovvie battute sul nome) sta isolando sempre di più l’amministrazione Trump. La guerra era impopolare fin dall’inizio e lo sta diventando sempre di più. Gli effetti inflazionistici del conflitto si stanno già facendo sentire e, se alcune forniture essenziali rimarranno bloccate nel Golfo, l'impatto economico si farà presto ancora più doloroso."
@LauraRuHK ➡️ https://substack.com/home/post/p-191866004

Spain has officially closed its airspace to all American military aircraft participating in operations related to the war against Iran. Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed the decision on Monday, stating that neither Spanish military bases nor national airspace will be authorized for any actions tied to the war, which she described as “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.” This move builds on an earlier refusal by Madrid to allow the US to use jointly operated bases — such as Rota and Morón — for strikes or support missions against Iran.
▪️While the UN has repeatedly proven completely ineffective as a guardian of international law, Spain’s decision is highly significant: the country refuses to become an enabler of one of the most egregious violators of international law by actively denying logistical support to the U.S. Last but not least, this move creates a remarkable precedent within NATO.

@LauraRuHK

La Spagna ha ufficialmente chiuso il suo spazio aereo a tutti gli aerei militari americani impegnati in operazioni legate alla guerra contro l’Iran. Il ministro della Difesa, Margarita Robles, ha confermato la decisione lunedì, dichiarando che né le basi militari spagnole né lo spazio aereo nazionale potranno essere utilizzati per qualsiasi azione collegata al conflitto.

«Si tratta di una guerra profondamente illegale e profondamente ingiusta», ha dichiarato Robles.

La mossa rafforza il precedente rifiuto di Madrid di concedere agli Stati Uniti l’uso delle basi gestite congiuntamente, come quelle di Rota e Morón, per attacchi o missioni di supporto contro Teheran. ▪️Mentre l'ONU ha dimostrato più volte la sua totale inefficacia nel difendere il diritto internazionale, la scelta della Spagna assume un peso particolare: Madrid rifiuta di diventare complice delle azioni illegali (oltre che moralmente aberranti) di un violatore seriale di tale diritto negando attivamente il proprio sostegno logistico agli Stati Uniti. Non ultimo, questa decisione crea un precedente significativo all’interno della Nato, mettendo in luce le crescenti divisioni all’interno dell’Alleanza atlantica.

@LauraRuHK

Who’s behind the mysterious ‘Iran-backed terror cell’ haunting Europe?

The Grayzone's Wyatt Reed says major questions remain about “Ashab Al-Yamin," a previously unknown group which is now blamed for a series of supposedly antisemitic attacks across Europe.

Why aren’t they targeting countries most involved in the Iran war?

Why are suspects being released on bail?

And why do they seem to communicate like Israelis?

Read the article here.

TheGrayzone.com
@thegrayzonenews

Italy denied use of an airbase in Sicily to US bombers heading to the Middle East US bombers were scheduled to land at Sigonella — a strategically important US naval installation and NATO base in Sicily — before continuing to the Middle East. Under bilateral agreements signed in the late 1950s, the United States may use the base for logistical support and training, but not as a transit point for combat aircraft involved in active military operations, except in genuine emergencies. Any such exception requires prior parliamentary approval. According to a source at the Italian defence ministry that spoke to Corriere della Sera, the US notified Italian authorities of the planned landing only while the aircraft were already en route to Sicily, bypassing the required procedures. It remains unclear exactly when the bombers were due to arrive, but the source stressed there was insufficient time to seek parliamentary authorisation. Many voices, both in the opposition and among independent analysts, argue that Italy should follow Spain’s clear and firm example. Spain has categorically refused to allow the United States to use its jointly operated bases in Rota and Morón, or even its airspace, for operations related to the war in Iran. ➡️ See also https://t.me/LauraRuHK/11156

L’Italia ha negato l’uso di una base aerea in Sicilia ai bombardieri statunitensi diretti in Medio Oriente. I bombardieri americani avrebbero dovuto atterrare a Sigonella — importante installazione navale statunitense e base NATO in Sicilia — prima di proseguire verso il Medio Oriente. Secondo gli accordi bilaterali firmati alla fine degli anni Cinquanta, gli Stati Uniti possono utilizzare la base per scopi logistici e addestrativi, ma non come scalo di transito per velivoli da combattimento impegnati in operazioni militari attive, salvo in caso di genuine emergenze. Qualsiasi eccezione richiede l’approvazione preventiva del Parlamento italiano. Secondo una fonte del Ministero della Difesa italiano che ha parlato con il Corriere della Sera, gli Stati Uniti hanno informato le autorità italiane del previsto atterraggio solo mentre gli aerei erano già in volo verso la Sicilia, aggirando così le procedure obbligatorie. Non è chiaro esattamente quando i bombardieri sarebbero dovuti arrivare, ma la fonte ha sottolineato che non c’era tempo sufficiente per richiedere l’autorizzazione parlamentare. Molte voci, sia tra le forze di opposizione sia tra analisti indipendenti, sostengono che l’Italia dovrebbe seguire l’esempio chiaro e deciso della Spagna. Madrid ha infatti negato agli USA l'uso delle basi di Rota e Morón, nonché il proprio spazio aereo, per operazioni legate alla guerra in Iran.
➡️ Vedi anche https://t.me/LauraRuHK/11157

As the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran enters its second month, China is quietly strengthening its position across the Middle East and in the broader global order.

While the US, a bull in a china shop, is causing chaos and destruction, China has positioned itself as a champion of de-escalation. Chinese diplomats have thrown their weight behind regional peace efforts, most recently backing Pakistan’s push to host US-Iran talks after last week’s four-nation meeting in Islamabad with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt. It's hardly surprising. Beijing is the world’s biggest buyer of Middle Eastern oil, it needs stable energy supplies and open shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Prolonged fighting threatens both. China is by far Iran's most important economic partner and buys most of its oil. Fortunately, Tehran has held firm and no regime change has occurred. Gulf states, wary of being dragged deeper into the conflict, are increasingly looking to China, and not only because it is a major trading partner that offers investment without demanding military commitments: Beijing mediated between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, is calling for a ceasefire and supporting regional diplomacy. In short, China is enhancing its image as a pragmatic power capable of delivering stability where Washington is not only unable to guarantee security to its allies but due to its prioritizing Israel over other allies it is a source of instability. For China, this creates valuable space to expand its influence across the Middle East and advance its vision of a multipolar world in which no single power dominates. Many analysts believe that Beijing is likely to emerge stronger, both in the region and in the global balance of power, which is exactly what Washington sought to prevent. @LauraRuHK